Interlaminar Injection

What is interlaminar injection?

Interlaminar injection can help reduce lower back, leg, neck or arm pain caused by sciatica, herniated discs, misaligned vertebrae or other back problems.

You have nerves that run from your spinal cord out to your legs and arms. When one of those nerve “roots” (the end closest to your spinal cord) gets irritated and inflamed due to a damaged disc or other condition, it causes pain that can radiate from your back to your leg, neck or arm.

A steroid medication can help reduce the inflammation and alleviate the pain. It’s injected into your back, into the area between your spine and spinal cord.

How is interlaminar injection done?

First, you’ll be given an intravenous medication to relax you. Then, you’ll lie on your stomach on an x-ray table.

The doctor will numb an area of skin on your back with a local anesthetic. Then, guided by an x-ray, he or she will:

The medicines then spread around the spinal area, reducing nerve inflammation and pain.

Usually, the procedure takes less than 15 minutes, and you can go home the same day.

How effective is interlaminar injection?

Some patients report pain relief within 30 minutes after the injection, but pain may return a few hours later as the anesthetic wears off. Longer term relief usually begins in two to three days, once the steroid begins to work.

How long the pain relief lasts is different for each patient. For some, the relief lasts several months or longer. If the treatment works for you, you can have periodic injections to stay pain-free.

What are the risks?

The risk of complication from an interlaminar injection is very low. Rarely, complications include bleeding or infection at the injection site.

Side effects can include:

Numb or weak legs

Dizziness

Headache

These effects resolve within a few hours.

What happens after the procedure?

You can continue your regular diet and medications immediately. Do not drive or do any rigorous activity for 24 hours. Take it easy. You can return to your normal activities the next day.

It may take up to a week for the steroid to begin working. If you don’t feel better within 10 days, see your doctor for more evaluation and to discuss different treatment.

Is interlaminar injection right for you?

Interlaminar injection may be right for you if your back, leg, neck or arm pain has lasted longer than four weeks, is severe or has not improved with other treatments, such as physical therapy.

Talk to your physician about it. To schedule an evaluation at Cleveland Clinic’s Department of Pain Management call 216.444.PAIN (7246) or 800.392.3353.